{"id":420523,"date":"2020-06-12T16:13:10","date_gmt":"2020-06-12T20:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/?p=420523"},"modified":"2025-04-23T16:37:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T16:37:52","slug":"harold-varner-charles-schwab-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/golf\/harold-varner-charles-schwab-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"Harold Varner III Leading On and Off the Course"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">When Harold Varner III got a triple bogey on the opening hole of his second round at the Charles Schwab Challenge, it was a turning point.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">Varner III exemplified his leadership qualities, never giving up amidst adversity.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">He shot seven under his remaining 17 holes, with eight birdies on his card.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">As he holds the 36-hole lead heading into the weekend, Varner III is a leader off the course, fighting for racial equality.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Started his day with a triple bogey.<br \/>Ended his day with 5 birdies in his last 6 holes.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HV3_Golf?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@HV3_Golf<\/a> leads by 1 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CSChallengeFW?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@CSChallengeFW<\/a> after a strong finish to Round 2. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/akWQrxlFiO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/akWQrxlFiO<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PGATOUR\/status\/1271489792816173061?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 12, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">\u201cIt&#8217;s pretty cool that the TOUR is doing that,\u201d\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/asaptxt.com\/orgs\/pgatour\/381\/transcripts\/46711.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"color: #4a6ee0\">Varner III said to reporters after his second-round regarding the PGA Tour\u2019s moment of silence to honour the late George Floyd.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u201cBut when you&#8217;re out there you&#8217;re just so in the moment. I was just trying to make a birdie.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>***<\/h2>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">As the PGA Tour returned to action this week, the backdrop of racial inequality cannot be ignored. With protests sweeping North America in support of anti-black racism, the PGA Tour is attempting to turn the conversation into action to enhance the game\u2019s diversity.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">Varner III is leading that charge.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">He was one of the first pro golfers to speak publicly about George Floyd\u2019s death. The 29-year-old spoke <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PGATOUR\/status\/1268890376246460418\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan on the lack of diversity<\/a> that is present in the game. In his home state of North Carolina,\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #4a6ee0\">Varner III launched the \u201cHV3 Foundation\u201d<\/span>\u00a0to \u201cgive back to less fortunate kids that could greatly benefit from increased access and opportunity in sport.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">There is a lot of of beauty and love in this world. I pray for equality &amp; social justice as we all so desperately deserve that in this day and age. I pray for humanity even more because regardless of color, WE need each other to make that change. Stay safe.  Love you guys \u270a\ud83c\udfff\u270a\ud83c\udffd\u270a\ud83c\udffb <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/LrFEff94IF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/LrFEff94IF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Harold Varner III (@HV3_Golf) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HV3_Golf\/status\/1267537008425123846?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 1, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">Varner III, along with Tiger Woods, is the only black player within the top 200. He earned all of his success through hard work and determination. He persevered through the eGolf and Florida tours, before earning his PGA Tour card in 2015. His first professional win came in 2016 on the European Tour at the Australian PGA Championship.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">Glimpses of consistency in his game came at the 2019 PGA Championship, where Varner III was tied for second after 36 holes. Despite playing in the final group with eventual champion Brooks Koepka, he shot 81, knocking him out of contention.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">Varner III is improving his ability to follow up a bad hole with a good one. Giving himself solid looks after the triple bogey put him in a position to generate birdies.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">\u201cYou just can&#8217;t live in the past,\u201d\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/asaptxt.com\/orgs\/pgatour\/381\/transcripts\/46711.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"color: #4a6ee0\">Varner III said.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u201cIt&#8217;s not a great place to be and it&#8217;s hard to learn from there. I&#8217;ve grown up a lot off the course, so it makes it easy to make good decisions that prepare you a little bit better for on-the-course stuff.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>***<\/h2>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">With a 63 and 66 in his opening two rounds, it is the lowest 36-hole score of Varner III\u2019s career. He aims to become the first golfer since Sergio Garcia in 2009 to win his first PGA Tour event at Colonial Country Club.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">A victory for Varner III means more than just winning a golf tournament. It allows his platform of playing golf to continue to raise awareness of his advocacy efforts off the course.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt;color: #0e101a\">\u00a0\u201cThe platform I have is through golf,\u201d\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ca.news.yahoo.com\/as-one-of-pg-as-only-black-players-coleader-harold-varner-iii-is-playing-for-more-than-the-charles-schwab-title-232559976.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"color: #4a6ee0\">Varner III said to Yahoo Sports\u2019 Dan Agnew on Thursday.<\/span><\/a> \u201cSo I know playing well is part of that, so you\u2019ve got to focus on the most important thing, and that\u2019s playing well.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When Harold Varner III got a triple bogey on the opening hole of his second round at the Charles Schwab Challenge, it was a turning point.\u00a0 \u00a0 Varner III exemplified his leadership qualities, never giving up amidst adversity.\u00a0 \u00a0 He shot seven under his remaining 17 holes, with eight birdies on his card.\u00a0 \u00a0 As [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4860,"featured_media":420526,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[16,112,21],"class_list":["post-420523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-golf","tag-golf","tag-harold-varner-iii","tag-pga-tour"],"modified_by":"yobodev","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/420523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4860"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=420523"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/420523\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/golf\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=420523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=420523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=420523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}